Shipping and display container



em. 3, 1935. w. A. RINGLER 2,923,242

SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER 7 Filed Jan. 5, 19:54 5 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Mil/1m fl. m gkr BY M n 7- ATTORNEYS Dec. 3, 1935, w, A. RINGLER 2,023,242

SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed Jan. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5 ATTORNEYS Defifi 1935. w. A. RINGLER SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed Jan. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 5,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to shipping and display containers and more particularly to a container in which articles of merchandise maybe packaged, shipped and stored and which may be conveniently set up by the merchant to display the merchandise contained therein.

This invention comprehends the provision of a paperboard box or tray having bottom, side and end walls adapted to contain merchandise. A combination member comprising a cover, display card and supporting easel is provided which telescopes over the tray. The cover element of the combination member comprises more particularly hinged parts adapted to cover and en close the top of the tray when in extended position. One end of the cover element is held fixed to the tray by means of a band or tubular element releasably secured to one end of the tray. The other end of the cover element is connected to a movable tubular element which slides along or telescopes over the tray. The hinged parts of the cover element are automatically lifted off from the tray so as to expose the goods and are moved into erect position so as to provide an attractive display card positioned at one end of the tray. A band comprising hinged parts extends under the bottom of the tray and is connected to the fixed tubular element and the movable tubular element. When the movable tubular element is operated to raise the cover into display card position the hinged parts of the band are simultaneously and automatically erected to provide a supporting easel at one end of the tray.

The shipping and display container may thus be adjusted from closed shipping position into open display position by a simple sliding or telescoping movement of the movable tubular element from one end towards the other end of the tray member. down and closed to protect the goods from exposure when not on display by a simple reverse movement of the movable tubular element. The tray member may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material either assembled by hand or on an automatic gluing machine The combination cover element, display card and supporting easel may also be formed from a single blank of paperboard material assembled automatically on a gluing machine without hand operation.

An object of this invention is to provide a convenient and attractive combination shipping and display container which may be easily and quickly adjusted by the merchant'from closed shipping: condition into-open display condition.

The container may also be taken 1934, Serial No. 705,310

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination shipping and display container which may be opened to expose the goods to view by a simple movement of the parts and simultaneously with such movement an attractive dis- 5 play card and a supporting easel for the tray is automatically thrown into position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination shipping and display container which can be inexpensively made on automatic 10 machinery substantially without hand operation, which is strong and durable, which fully protects the contents during shipment and storage, which is easy to pack and seal, and which can be easily, quickly and conveniently set up into display posi- 15 tion so as to remove the cover and expose the goods to view and simultaneously with the removal of the cover provide means for erecting a display card for attracting attention to the goods, and also to simultaneously erect an easel which 20 will support the open container in a tilted position most convenient for display.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

In order that a clearer understanding of my .25

invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates an open blank from which a merchandise receiving tray may be formed;

Fig. 2 illustrates an open blank from which the combined cover element display card and supporting easel may be formed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the tray member in the process of assembly from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combination cover, display card and easel member assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the container showing particularly the means used for locking one end of the tray member to the corresponding end of the combination member, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate certain features of the assemb-ly;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the tray member and combination cover, display card andeasel member as they appear when fullyassembled;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the combination shipping and display container as it appears in closed shippingco'ndition;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the combination shipping and display container in partially open position;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a combination shipping and display container in full open display position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a combination cover, display card and supporting easel member of modified construction, the modification consisting mainly in the means used to secure one end of the combination member to one end of the tray member;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of tray member which may be used in connection with the combination cover, display card and easel member shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the combination cover, display card, easel member and tray member shown in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively, in the process of assembly;

Fig. 13 is a vertical, longitudinal, cross sectional view through the modified shipping and display container shown in Fig. 12 as it appears in closed position;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a combination shipping and display container of further modified'construction, the modification consisting mainly in the means used for securing one end of the combined cover, displaycard and easel member to the corresponding end of the tray member;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tray member used in the assembly shown is: Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a vertical, longitudinal cross tional view--through one end portion of the modified shipping and display container shown in Fig. 14 this view illustrating more particularly certain features of the construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

The combination shipping and display container comprises in general a tray member which may be formed from the blank of paperboard material shown in Fig. 1 over which is telescoped a combined cover, display card and supporting easel member which may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material such as shown in Fig. 2. The tray forming blank shown in Fig. 1 comprises more particularly a bottom wall 1, side walls 2, end wall 3 and tabs 4 hinged to one end of the side walls 2. In asesmbling the tray member, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the

side walls 2 are first erected, the tabs 4 turned inwardly and the end wall 3 then erected. The end wall 3 may be provided with an interior end Wall portion 5 which seats against the inside face of the tabs 4, held in thisposition by a foot portion 6 inserted under a tab I struck up from the bottom wall I of the tray member. The other end of the tray member may be closed by the locking tabs 8 and 9 hinged to the other end of the side walls 2. The function of the locking tabs 8 and 9 will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The combined cover, display card and supporting easel member is formed from a single blank which is cut and scored in the manner shown in Fig. 2. This combination member comprises more particularly a cover element a formed from the parts I5 and I5 hinged together along the score line I8. .The cover part I5 is hinged along the score line 29 to a movable tubular element {2 adapted to encircle the tray. The movable tubular element 17 comprises more particularly a band having a portion I9 which extends across the top of the tray, portion 23 which extends across the bottom of the tray, portion 22 which extends across one side wall of the tray and portions 2| and 24 which extend across the other side wall of the tray. Portions 2| and 24 are glued together so as to provide a continuous band which completely encircles the tray shown more particularly in Figs. 1 4, '7, 8 and 9.

The cover part I6 is similarly hinged along the score line 3| to a fixed tray encircling band or tubular element 0 comprising top portion 29 which extends across the top of the tray, bot- 15 tom portion 30 which extends across the bottom of the tray, a side portion 31 which extends across one of the side walls of the tray, and overlapping side portions 33 and 34 which extend across the other side wall of thetray. Over- 20 lapping side wall portions 33 and 34 are glued or otherwise secured together to provide a continuous band or tubular element. The fixed tubular element 0 above described is provided with means for securing the same to one end of 25 the tray member, which means comprises a flap 35 hinged to the top portion 29 and a flap 36' hinged to the bottom portion 36 thereof.

The supporting easel d is formed from hinged parts comprising more particularly a base por- 30 tion 25 hinged to the leg portions 26 along the score lines 21'. One of the leg portions 26 is hinged along the score line 28 to the bottom portion 23 of the movable tubular element and the other leg portion 25 is hinged along the score 35 line 32 to the bottom portion 39 of the fixed tubularelement. It is seen that the supporting easel as above described comprises a band of paperboard material formed from hinged parts connecting the bottom portion 23 of the movable 4O tubular element with the bottom portion 33 of the fixed tubular element.

In assembling the combined cover element, display card and supporting easel from the blank shown in Fig. 2, glue is applied to the inside face 45 of the portions 2! and 33, the blank then folded into the tubular form shown in Fig. 4, and the portions 2! and 23 pressed into adhesive contact respectively with the portions 24 and 34. The combined cover, display card and supporting 50 easel as thus assembled represents a tube into which the assembled tray member may be inserted in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The tray member is inserted so that the looking tabs 8 and 9 of the tray member are positioned adjacent the flaps: 35 and 36 of the tubular shaped combination member. When the tray member has been completely inserted the hinged flap 36 of the combination member is raised upwardly around the edge of the bottom wall I and 60 between the locking flaps 8 and 9 of the tray member, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. The flap 35 is then folded downwardly so as to overlap the flap 36. Finally, the locking flaps 8 and 9 are positioned in overlapping relation- 65 ship so as to enclose the flaps 35 and 36. The locking flaps 8 and 9 may be held in locked position by means of a projecting hook ll provided on the locking tab 9 which is inserted into a slit I9 cut into the locking tab 8, shown more par- 70 tic ularly in Fig. 6. The flaps 35 and 36 attached to the fixed tubular element of the combination member are thus located between the free edge of the bottom wall 1 and the locking tabs 3 and 9 of the tray. One end of the combination mem- 75 ber is thus releasably locked to one end of the tray'member and is held in fixed position. The tubular element b hinged to the cover part I5 is adapted to slide along or telescope over the 1. tray in the manner shown more particularly in Fig. 8. As the movable tubular element b is moved towards the fixed tubular element the tray is opened and the merchandise therein exposed to View. During this movement of the tubular member 22 the hinged portions I and I6 of the cover element a are automatically moved into erect position, as shown in Fig. 8. The hinged portion I5, for example, may be provided with a. suitably embellished portion Il cut out from the hinged part I6 which may be decorated as desired to provide an attractive display card. The cover portion I6 hinged to the display card portion I5 along the score line I8 provides a backing and support for the display part I5 of the cover element, as shown more particularly in Fig. 9. The dividing score line I8 between the display part I5 and the supporting part I5 may be so located that the supporting part I6 is a small fraction shorter than the display part I5, thus drawing and holding the display part I5 in desired inclined position when fully set up for display.

As the element 1) is moved into open position the leg parts 25 of the supporting easel move the base part 25 thereof away from the bottom of the tray. As the opening movement is continued the leg parts 25 are automatically erected in the manner shown in Figs. 8 and 9 until the hinged lines 28 and 32 of the leg parts 26 are positioned substantially adjacentone another. When the leg parts 25 are in this position the supporting easel is completely erected, also operating to hold the tubular element b in full open position and prevent return closing movement thereof.

As thus arranged, the merchandise positioned in the tray is fully visible to view. The easel d supportsone end of the tray in raised position so that when the shipping and display container is placed upon a fiat surface the tray member containing the merchandise is tilted at an attractive angle. The display part I5 of the cover element is held at such an angle as to most eiTectively attract attention to the merchandise. As above explained, the opening operation may be performed by the merchant in a split second by merely telescoping the movable tubular element I) over the tray member so as to uncover the same. The display card and the supporting easel are simultaneously and automatically erected by the performance of the .above telescoping operation. Should the merchant desire to close the container when not desired for display, the movable tubular element 1) is simply moved downwardly over the tray and by this operation the cover parts I5 and I6 extend themselves to lie flatly over the top of the tray completely closing the same. As the result of the same operation the base part 25 and leg parts 25 forming the supporting pedestal are extended so as to lie fiat against the bottom wall I of the tray member. A shipping and display container as thus constructed presents a rectangular box which may be easily stacked and stored in a minimum of space.

I have shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, a combination shipping and display container of modified construction, the modification consisting mainly in the means used for removably securing one end of the combination cover, display card and supporting easel member .to .the correspond ing endof the tray member. In. this modified construction a fully set up end wall 3-is provided at each end of the tray member, as shown more particularly in Figs. 11 and 13. The tray member may comprise'side walls 2 having inturned fiapportions I2 and end wall 3 having inturned fiap-portions'5 locked, glued or otherwise secured together to provide a complete set up box It'is understood, however, that any form of set up traymember or box having bottom, side and end walls may be used within the purview of this invention. The fixed tubular element 0 of the combined cover, display card and easel member is provided with only one hinged flap 35, the hinged flap 36 shown in Fig. 4 being omitted. The tray member shown in Fig,'11 is telescoped into the combination member and the flap 35' positioned within the tray member and adjacent the inturned fiap 5 at the end of the box. shown more particularly in Figs. 12 and 13. The locking fiaps 38 and 39 are positioned in overlapping relationship, surroundingthe end wall 3 of the tray member. When the locking tabs 38'and 39 are locked in position movement of the fixed tubular element 0 is prevented by reason of the interlocking arrangement of the flaps 35 and the locking tabs 38 and 39 with the end wall 3 of the tray mem ber. The tubular element 22, however, is free to slide or telescope over the tray to open and close the container in the manner heretofore described.

A further modified means for releasably securing one end of the combination cover, display card and supporting easel member to the corresponding end of the tray member, is shown in Figs. 14, and 16.' In this construction the bottom portion 29 of the fixed tubular element 0 is provided with a forwardly projecting ear 45 hinged to the bottom portion 29. A slot A'Iis cut through the bottom wall I at one end thereof to receive the ear portion 45 inserted therein. The inturned fiap'5, forming part of the end Wall of the-tray member, is preferably cut out over the slot 41, as at 48, to provide a seat for the ear portion l5 inserted through the slot 41 into the tray member. A smooth surface free from projections is thus provided on the inside of the tray member. The ear portion 45 looks or holds the tubular element 0 in fixed position with respect to the corresponding end of the tray member, leaving the movable tubular element b free to slide over the tray member as before.

It is thus seen that a combination shipping and display container is provided which may be inexpensively made from paperboard material cut, scored, glued and assembled entirely by machine operation. The blank forming the tray member and the blank forming the combination cover, display card and easel member are substantially rectangular in shape and may be made substantially without waste of paperboard material. The container when assembled may be easily opened and packed with merchandise. After the container has been packed it can be closed by drawing the movable tubular element 1) downwardly over the tray member to closing position, and if desired, the movable tubular element may be held in closed position during shipment and storage by the simple application of a glued strip stretched over the tubular element band the adjacent end wall of the tray member. The container may be made substantially rectangular in shape and thus occupies a minimum of space during shipment and-storage. When the merchant receives the packed containers, the containers may be set up in display position in or on the counter or table by simply sliding the movable tubular element b over the tray toward the fixed tubular element 0. This operation, which may be performed in a split second, (a) exposes the goods to view, (27) automatically and simultaneously erects a display card to attract attention to the merchandise, and (c) erects a supporting easel at one end of the tray which supports the tray in convenient inclined position so as to place the merchandise in an easily visible position. Should the merchant desire to remove the merchandise from the display counter, the container may be closed by reverse movement of the movable tubular element b and the container in closed position returned to the shelves. The shipping and display container as herein described may be used in connection with the merchandising. of enumerable products and articles commonly displayed in department stores, grocery and food stores, cigar stores and specialty shops,

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: g

1. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a cover element providing a closure for said tray, said cover element including a portion hinged in fixed position to said tray and another portion hinged to said first portion, said portions being erectable to provide a display card associated with said tray, and means comprising a band encircling said tray for holding said portions in erect display position.

2. A shipping and display container including in combination, a tray comprising bottom, side and end walls to contain merchandise, a collapsible cover element providing a closure for said tray, said cover element comprising portions hinged together along a hinge line and operative when in extended position to provide a closure for said tray, the hinge line of said portions being movable away from said tray when in collapsed erect position to provide a display card extending angularly from said tray, and means for manipulating said cover element comprising a band connected to said cover element and encircling said tray.

3. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a cover element hinged to the tray at one end thereof, said cover element including a display card portion and a supporting portion hinged to said display card portion and the tray and operative to support saiddisplay card portion when said portions are angularly erected with respect to said tray, and means for manipulating said cover element comprising a band connecting said cover element and encircling said tray.

4. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a collapsible cover element providing a combined closure and display card for said tray, said cover element being 001- lapsible along a fold line extending transversely across, the same,. a collapsible supporting easel positioned under said tray, said easel comprising a foldable strip of paperboard material adapted to lie flat against the bottom wall of the tray when the container is in closed position, and means for simultaneously manipulating said cover element and supporting easel.

5. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a cover element foldable across the mid-section thereof providing a combined closure and display card for said tray, a collapsible supporting easel positioned under said tray, and means for simultaneously manipulating said cover element and supporting easel into display position.

6. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls, and a bottom Wall, a collapsible cover element foldable across the mid-section thereof providing a combined closure and display card for said tray, a collapsible supporting easel positioned under said tray, and means operative to simultaneously manipulate said cover element and supporting easel into display position.

7. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a collapsible cover element providing a combined closure and display c'ard for said tray, a collapsible supporting easel positioned under said tray, and means operative to automatically and simultaneously manipulate both the cover element and the supporting easel from shipping into display position and vice versa, said cover comprising a closure for said tray when in extended position and a display card when in collapsed position.

8. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side Walls and a bottom wall, a collapsible cover element providing a combined closure and display card for said tray, a collapsible supporting easel positioned under said tray, and means comprising a movable band encircling said trayand connected to said cover element and supporting easel operative to manipulate the same from shipping into display position.

9. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray comprising bottom, side and end walls, and a combined closure, and supporting easel associated with said tray said closure and easel having transversely extending score lines permitting the same to be simultaneously operative to transform the container from closed shipping condition into open display condition, and means encircling said tray and connected to said cover element and supporting easel operative to manipulate the same from shipping to display position.

, 10. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray comprising bottom, side and end walls formed from a single piece of paperboard material, and a combined closure, display card and supporting easel associated with said tray, said closure and easel having transversely extending score lines permitting the same to be simultaneously operative to transform the container from closed shipping condition into open display condition, said combined closure, display card and supporting easel being formed from a single piece of paperboard material, and means for securing one end of said closure in fixed position in said tray.

11. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side Walls andiabottom wall, a collapsible cover element expansible over the top of the tray to cover the same, a collapsible supporting easel comprising hinged parts adapted to seat against the bottom Wall of the'tray when in extended position, and means for simultaneously manipulating said cover element and supporting easel from the extended position into collapsed display position.

12. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a collapsible cover element expansible over the top of the tray to cover the same, a collapsible supporting easel comprising hinged parts adapted to seat against the bottom wall of the tray when in extended position, and means connect-ed to one end respectively of the cover element and supporting easel automatically operative to simultaneously move the cover element into upstanding display card position and said easel into tray supporting position.

13. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side Walls and a bottom Wall, a collapsible cover element expansible over the top of the tray to cover the same, a collapsible supporting ease! comprising hinged parts adapted to seat against the bottom wall of the tray when in extended position, means securing one end of said cover element and one end of said supporting easel to one end of the tray, and means connected to the other end respectively of said cover element and supporting easel movable with respect to said tray to automatically transform the cover element into an upstanding display card and to assemble said display easel into erect position at one end of the tray.

14. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a collapsible cover element expansible over the top of the tray to cover the same, a collapsible supporting easel comprising hinged parts adapted to seat against 'the bottom wall of the tray when in extended position, and a band secured to one end of said tray and respectively to one end of said cover element and one end of said display easel, and a slidable band encircling the tray and secured respectively to the other end of said cover element and to the other end of said easel operative to simultaneously transfer said cover element from tray closing position into upstanding display card position and to transfer the supporting easel from extended position into erect tray supporting position.

15. A shipping and display container including in combination, a merchandise tray having side walls and a bottom wall, a movable band encircling said tray, and a cover element providing a closure for said tray, said cover element including a portion hingedly fixed to said tray and another portion hinged to said band, said cover element being foldable across the mid-section permitting said portions to be erected to provide a display card associated with said tray.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER. 

